Zach LaVine to the Denver Nuggets? What It Could Mean for the Chicago Bulls
The rumor mill is in full effect, and it has Flight 8 flying West.
LEAGUE SOURCES say [Denver’s] focus on [Zach] LaVine in recent discussions is significant, with the Nuggets interested in the 29-year-old who is averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. LaVine, a two-time All-Star, is owed $43 million this season, $45.9 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 campaign.
So say The Athletic’s Tony Jones and Sam Amick, who add that if Denver wants to see LaVine in a Nuggets uni, they’ll need to say bye-bye to forward Michael Porter Jr., adding:
Porter has long been one of the best shooters in the league. This season, he has rounded into becoming an all-around scorer, capable of impacting offense from all three levels. He has also gotten stronger and become more impactful defensively than he has been in the past.
Upon first blush, this deal looks like a win for Chicago — they get younger, they jettison LaVine’s contract — but is it really? Let’s do a Pepsi Challenge and find out:
THE PLAYERS
Offensively-speaking, LaVine’s and Porter’s overall impact on their respective teams is remarkably similar, the primary differences stemming from their sizes and positions.
A combo guard/forward, LaVine is 6’5” and lives mostly beyond the arc, while Porter — who can play both forward positions — is 6’10”, and sets up shop primarily in the paint.
The question then becomes, what does each roster need right now?
With Jamal Murray suffering through his worst statistical season since 2019-20, Denver is in the market for a reliable second option who can take pressure off of Nikola Jokic. (That said, what with his season for the ages, Jokic doesn’t seem to be feeling the pressure. But you get the point.)
LaVine — who many (like me) contend shouldn’t be a #1 option in this league — is a professional scorer, and will thrive as Jokic’s beta dog. Sure, Porter can get himself plenty of buckets, but he’ll never be a guy who can drop 27 points in a quarter.
A fantastic locker room figure and a generally great dude, LaVine will be missed both on and off the court, but Porter’s arrival wouldn’t just soften the blow; by 2027, Bulls fans’ll be like, “Zach who?”
At 26, Porter very much fits Chicago’s timeline; he could start at either the three or four spot; and if his improving three-ball game continues its upward trend, the Bulls’ offense suddenly becomes a whole lot more diverse. That all being the case, a starting lineup of Porter, Josh Giddey, Coby White, Matas Buzelis (we’re benching Patrick Williams), and Jalen Smith (we’re trading Nikola Vucevic) could evolve into a matchup nightmare.
Chicago’s newfangled approach won’t bear fruit for a season or three, but that starting five’s average age is 23.2, so the Bulls can (and should) patiently wait.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR CHICAGO? Today, meh. Next season and beyond, one-hundred percent.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR DENVER? They’re in win-now mode, and LaVine’s skill set will help them do just that. Bring it on.
THE MONEY
LaVine’s somewhat onerous contract is the primary reason he’s still in a Bulls uni…but is it really that onerous? The fact that he still has two remaining years — the second being a player option — might be seen as a problem, but in terms of the 2024-25 money itself, it’s not super-tragic.
LaVine is taking home $43,031,940 this season, the 18th-highest salary in the league. But look at the 10 players behind him:
Ben Simmons – Brooklyn Nets – $40,338,400
Pascal Siakam – Toronto Raptors – $39,893,801
Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors – $39,361,345
Rudy Gobert – Minnesota Timberwolves – $38,172,414
Fred VanVleet – Houston Rockets – $38,000,000
Kyrie Irving – Dallas Mavericks – $37,000,000
DeMar DeRozan – Chicago Bulls – $36,739,130
Jrue Holiday – Boston Celtics – $36,861,707
Kristaps Porziņģis – Boston Celtics – $36,016,200
Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans – $36,000,000
LaVine is a two-time All-Star. Two of the above can claim the same (Siaikim, Holiday), while three have been there once (Ingram, Porzingis, VanVleet), so one could posit that Zach’s salary is a proper reflection of his place in the league. It’s just a matter of determining where a team wants to allocate its funds — if a franchise needs a high-level scorer, LaVine is a relatively reasonable value.
Porter comes at a decent price — he’s taking in $31,650,600 this season, 35th-most in the league — but his deal runs through the 2027-28 season, and the Bulls might not want to make that sort of commitment. Then again, Patrick Williams’ contract isn’t up until 2028-29, so who knows.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR CHICAGO? Williams’ situation muddies up this situation — he and Porter play the same position, and Williams wishes he could be as productive as Porter — but if Chicago can move Williams, this makes all the sense in the world. If Williams is here for the duration, it makes some of the sense in the world.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR DENVER? To reiterate, the Nugs are in win-now mode, and LaVine’s skill set will help them do just that. Bring it on.
THE HEALTH SITUATION
Zach’s injury history:
2017-18:
February: LaVine suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2016-2017 season.
2018-19:
March: After being traded to the Chicago Bulls, LaVine experienced soreness in his surgically repaired left knee, leading to a shutdown for the rest of the season.
2019-20:
December: LaVine dealt with multiple minor injuries, including back issues, shoulder and shin problems, and illness, causing him to miss several games.
2020-21:
March: A left quadriceps strain sidelined LaVine for a period before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021-22:
April: LaVine entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, missing 11 games.
May: He experienced knee soreness, leading to precautionary rest as the Bulls were out of playoff contention.
2022-23:
January: LaVine missed several games due to left knee soreness.
February: He underwent treatment in Los Angeles during the All-Star break, including fluid drainage and a cortisone shot for his left knee.
March-April: Continued knee soreness led to intermittent absences.
December: LaVine missed games due to back spasms.
2023-24:
January: LaVine dealt with a hand injury, causing him to miss games.
November-December: He was sidelined with right foot inflammation, which eventually required season-ending surgery.
2024-25:
October: LaVine returned to action after recovering from foot surgery, participating in the season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans.
December: LaVine missed a game due to back spasms but returned to play in the subsequent matchup.
Mike’s injury history:
2017-18:
November: While playing for the University of Missouri, Porter Jr. suffered a back injury just two minutes into the season opener, leading to a microdiscectomy surgery on his L3-L4 spinal discs. This procedure sidelined him for most of the college season.
2018-19:
July: After being selected 14th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Draft, Porter Jr. underwent a second back surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2018-2019 NBA season.
2019-20:
January 2020: Porter Jr. experienced a right ankle sprain, resulting in a six-game absence between January and February.
January 2021: He missed 10 games due to the NBA's health and safety protocols related to COVID-19.
2021-22:
November: Porter Jr. suffered a back injury during a game against the Houston Rockets, leading to his third back surgery. This surgery caused him to miss the remainder of the 2021-2022 season.
2022-23:
November: He was sidelined for 13 games due to a left heel contusion but returned to contribute significantly to the Nuggets' championship run.
2023-24:
October: Porter Jr. missed a game due to an ankle injury but returned shortly thereafter.
February-April: He dealt with knee soreness and illness, leading to multiple game absences during this period.
So both have suffered their fair share of ouchies, but here in 2024, the stat sheet and the eye test tell us that each is as healthy as he’s been at any point in his entire career. Let’s call this one a wash.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR CHICAGO? As noted, wash. So yes.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR DENVER? As noted, wash. So yes.
THE FIT
With a zillion guards and two bigs, Chicago’s roster is a mismatched mess. If they can offload of an ostensible shooting guard — LaVine plays a lot of three, but he’s a two at heart — that wouldn’t be a terrible thing. The 6’10” Porter would slide neatly into the three spot, enabling Bulls coach Billy Donovan to give Williams the seventh-man role he’s so richly earned.
As for Denver, Jokic has never had a true gunner like LaVine to at his disposal; Murray’s had his moments, but he’s a pure point guard, so gunning shouldn’t be his job. LaVine’s arrival would not only give Jokic his own personal Robin, but it would allow Murray to do what he does best, and that’s run the floor.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR CHICAGO? Porter isn’t a perfect fit, but who is? Go for it.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR DENVER? Would you want to stare down a Jokic/LaVine/Murray big three during the fourth quarter of a Game Seven in the thin air of Colorado? Yeah, me neither. Make it so.
THE VERDICT
Depending on what kind of pieces and draft capital need to be included, this deal is a win — or at least a tie — for everybody, as it helps Denver today, and Chicago tomorrow.
So whaddya say we go ahead and drink the Pepsi?